diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f87929d2..d16a6952 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ set (LOOT_HEADERS "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/backend/app/loot_paths.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/backend/helpers/language.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/backend/helpers/version.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/backend/helpers/yaml_set_helpers.h"
+                "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/api_decorator.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/error.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/game_type.h"
                 "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/language_code.h"
@@ -273,6 +274,7 @@ set (LOOT_API_SRC "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/generated/loot_version.cpp"
                   "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/api/api_database.cpp")
 
 set (LOOT_API_HEADERS "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/api.h"
+                      "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/api_decorator.h"
                       "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/database_interface.h"
                       "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/error.h"
                       "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/loot/game_type.h"
diff --git a/include/loot/api.h b/include/loot/api.h
index cfb9806e..ff43a830 100644
--- a/include/loot/api.h
+++ b/include/loot/api.h
@@ -32,27 +32,12 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
 
+#include "loot/api_decorator.h"
 #include "loot/database_interface.h"
 #include "loot/error.h"
 #include "loot/game_type.h"
 #include "loot/loot_version.h"
 
-/* set up dll import/export decorators
-   when compiling the dll on windows, ensure LOOT_EXPORT is defined. clients
-   that use this header do not need to define anything to import the symbols
-   properly. */
-#if defined(_WIN32)
-#   ifdef LOOT_STATIC
-#       define LOOT_API
-#   elif defined LOOT_EXPORT
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllexport)
-#   else
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllimport)
-#   endif
-#else
-#   define LOOT_API
-#endif
-
 namespace loot {
 /**@}*/
 /**********************************************************************//**
diff --git a/include/loot/api_decorator.h b/include/loot/api_decorator.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4080d181
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/loot/api_decorator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*  LOOT
+
+    A load order optimisation tool for Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3 and
+    Fallout: New Vegas.
+
+    Copyright (C) 2013-2016    WrinklyNinja
+
+    This file is part of LOOT.
+
+    LOOT is free software: you can redistribute
+    it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+    as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+    the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+    LOOT is distributed in the hope that it will
+    be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with LOOT.  If not, see
+    <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+    */
+
+#ifndef LOOT_API_DECORATOR
+#define LOOT_API_DECORATOR
+
+/* set up dll import/export decorators
+   when compiling the dll on windows, ensure LOOT_EXPORT is defined. clients
+   that use this header do not need to define anything to import the symbols
+   properly. */
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+#   ifdef LOOT_STATIC
+#       define LOOT_API
+#   elif defined LOOT_EXPORT
+#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllexport)
+#   else
+#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllimport)
+#   endif
+#else
+#   define LOOT_API
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/loot/error.h b/include/loot/error.h
index c4ca159a..63c48bb3 100644
--- a/include/loot/error.h
+++ b/include/loot/error.h
@@ -28,22 +28,6 @@
 #include <exception>
 #include <string>
 
-/* set up dll import/export decorators
-when compiling the dll on windows, ensure LOOT_EXPORT is defined. clients
-that use this header do not need to define anything to import the symbols
-properly. */
-#if defined(_WIN32)
-#   ifdef LOOT_STATIC
-#       define LOOT_API
-#   elif defined LOOT_EXPORT
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllexport)
-#   else
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllimport)
-#   endif
-#else
-#   define LOOT_API
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @file
  * @brief Contains the Error class used for some exceptions thrown.
diff --git a/include/loot/loot_version.h b/include/loot/loot_version.h
index 3ddf19e0..fe60796a 100644
--- a/include/loot/loot_version.h
+++ b/include/loot/loot_version.h
@@ -27,21 +27,7 @@ along with LOOT.  If not, see
 
 #include <string>
 
-/* set up dll import/export decorators
-when compiling the dll on windows, ensure LOOT_EXPORT is defined. clients
-that use this header do not need to define anything to import the symbols
-properly. */
-#if defined(_WIN32)
-#   ifdef LOOT_STATIC
-#       define LOOT_API
-#   elif defined LOOT_EXPORT
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllexport)
-#   else
-#       define LOOT_API __declspec(dllimport)
-#   endif
-#else
-#   define LOOT_API
-#endif
+#include "loot/api_decorator.h"
 
 /**
  * @file